E3 2009: Parabellum Hands-on

The online persistent shooter is a genre that is rapidly growing. Parabellum fits into this category, and what's impressive are the production values and depth of this entirely free-to-play game.

Parabellum offers an impressive amount of character customization; it's no problem to create a unique looking character and then clad them using a huge selection of clothing and equipment. It's a modern day game, so you can give your guys night vision goggles, gas masks, the latest tactical armor, and much more. If you don't want to go for realistic military garb, you can give your guys tiger-spotted tight pants and pink jackets. Frankly, I wish that everyone online would stick with standard uniforms; it's just annoying to me to see someone in bright purple running around. But that's life.

The center of the game remains the fast-paced first-person shooting action. It feels very much like a Counter-Strike type of game. In the level I played I ran across the rooftops of New York in a team deathmatch game. Weapons felt just right, with recoil affecting my accuracy.

Parabellum is currently in a closed beta, but it should open up later this summer, with a launch later this year. If you like shooters (and there are a lot of you out there), this is definitely a game to keep an eye on.